--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Books are easily destroyed. But words…" description: "\"“Books are easily destroyed. But words will live as long as people can remember them. Tattoos, for example, are very hard to forget. I think there's so..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5a/tahereh-mafi-229_books_books-are-easily-destroyed-but-words-wil_198801.jpg" --- # Books are easily destroyed. But words will live as long as… ![“Books are easily destroyed. But words will live as long as people can remember them. Tattoos, for example, are very hard to forget. I think there's something about the impermanence of life these days that makes it necessary to etch ink into our skin. It reminds us that we've been marked by the…” quote by Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5a/tahereh-mafi-229_books_books-are-easily-destroyed-but-words-wil_198801.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5a/tahereh-mafi-229_books_books-are-easily-destroyed-but-words-wil_198801.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5a/tahereh-mafi-229_books_books-are-easily-destroyed-but-words-wil_198801.jpg) > ““Books are easily destroyed. But words will live as long as people can remember them. Tattoos, for example, are very hard to forget. I think there's something about the impermanence of life these days that makes it necessary to etch ink into our skin. It reminds us that we've been marked by the world, that we're still alive. That we'll never forget.”” [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Words endure beyond physical objects; tattooing is a metaphor for making lasting personal marks that remind us of existence. **In simple terms:** Words last, tattoos remind us we live. Key Takeaway Embrace lasting symbols of your story. Themes memory impermanence identity Mood reflective nostalgic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal journaling - body art - legacy projects - grief coping - self‑reflection Key Concepts literature symbolism mortality Questions to Reflect On - What do you want to remember forever? - How can you honor your experiences without tattoos? A Different Perspective Physical permanence can be limiting; not everyone wants permanent marks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Destroyed Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destroyed-words-2081536/) [Hard to forget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-to-forget/) [Live Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-long/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Remember Tattoos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember-tattoos-2081535/) [Tattoos Example](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tattoos-example-2081537/) ## Related quotes > [“Tattoos, for example, are very hard to forget. I think there's something about the impermanence of life these days that makes it necessary to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/tattoos-for-example-are-very-hard-to-forget-i-think-there-s-something/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [Books are easily destroyed. But words will live as long as people can remember them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/books-are-easily-destroyed-but-words-will-live-as-long-as-people-can-2/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“He fixed her in his gaze and set his jaw, his hands twitching at his sides. "You feel something for me," he said, daring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-rose/he-fixed-her-in-his-gaze-and-set-his-jaw-his-hands-twitching-at-his/) [Frankie Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-rose/) > [“I've tried so hard to stop thinking about him. I've tried so hard to forget his face. I've tried so hard to get those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-ve-tried-so-hard-to-stop-thinking-about-him-i-ve-tried-so-hard-to/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [It's very hard to forget someone who has given me so much to remember.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jd/it-s-very-hard-to-forget-someone-who-has-given-me-so-much-to-remember/) [JD](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jd/) > [It's so hard to forget someone that had gave you soo much to remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-xx/it-s-so-hard-to-forget-someone-that-had-gave-you-soo-much-to-remember/) [Sonia Xx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-xx/) > [Truth is, everybody's going to hurt you, you just have to find the ones worth suffering for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/truth-is-everybody-s-going-to-hurt-you-you-just-have-to-find-the-ones/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Hard to get hard to forget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mctjc/hard-to-get-hard-to-forget/) [Mctjc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mctjc/) > [No matter how I try hard to forget you, My eyes only remember you. Can you think of me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-matter-how-i-try-hard-to-forget-you-my-eyes-only-remember-you-can/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sometimes I hate this songs because they bring the past when you we tried hard to forget those memories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushan-r-sharma/sometimes-i-hate-this-songs-because-they-bring-the-past-when-you-we/) [Sushan R Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushan-r-sharma/) > [ “The practice of buying off the Vikings will always be associated with Æthelred in particular… \[but\] it was not something which proceeded from Æthelred… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-keynes/the-practice-of-buying-off-the-vikings-will-always-be-associated-with/) [Simon Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-keynes/) > [Friends are easy to find, but once they left you,it's so hard to forget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gracesel-collado/friends-are-easy-to-find-but-once-they-left-you-it-s-so-hard-to-forget/) [Gracesel Collado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gracesel-collado/) > [“You tried to so hard to forget me; you burnt the letters I made. Though my memory has been dying, I hope the feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-james/you-tried-to-so-hard-to-forget-me-you-burnt-the-letters-i-made-though/) [Joshua James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-james/) > [Dont be hard to get, be hard to forget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana/dont-be-hard-to-get-be-hard-to-forget/) [Ana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana/) > [In life's orchestra, the bike is the double bass. Hard to forget it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-fournel/in-life-s-orchestra-the-bike-is-the-double-bass-hard-to-forget-it/) [Paul Fournel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-fournel/) ## More by Tahereh Mafi > [His hands are holding my cheeks, and he pulls back just to look me in the eye and his chest is heaving and he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/his-hands-are-holding-my-cheeks-and-he-pulls-back-just-to-look-me-in/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“think Adam is looking to break Kenji’s neck at this point.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/think-adam-is-looking-to-break-kenji-s-neck-at-this-point/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I didn't want the clothes or the perfect shoes or the expensive anything. I didn't want to be draped in silk. All I ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-didn-t-want-the-clothes-or-the-perfect-shoes-or-the-expensive/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“infinite points of feeling for every nerve ending in my body”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/infinite-points-of-feeling-for-every-nerve-ending-in-my-body/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“He's too much. Everything about him is too much. His emotions, his actions, his anger, his aggression. His love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/he-s-too-much-everything-about-him-is-too-much-his-emotions-his/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“Right now I can't even control my own imagination as it grips my hair and drags me into the dark”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/right-now-i-can-t-even-control-my-own-imagination-as-it-grips-my-hair/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I want you, I want all of you. I want you inside and out and catching your breath and aching for me like I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-want-you-i-want-all-of-you-i-want-you-inside-and-out-and-catching/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I will give no one the satisfaction of my death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-will-give-no-one-the-satisfaction-of-my-death/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I almost forget that she still hates me, despite how hard I’ve fallen for her. And I’ve fallen. So hard. I’ve hit the ground.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-almost-forget-that-she-still-hates-me-despite-how-hard-i-ve-fallen/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [All I ever wanted was to reach out and touch another human being not just with my hands but with my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/all-i-ever-wanted-was-to-reach-out-and-touch-another-human-being-not/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“It's the kind of kiss that makes you realize oxygen is overrated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/it-s-the-kind-of-kiss-that-makes-you-realize-oxygen-is-overrated/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“That’s when I understand. Of course she’s not okay. Of course she didn’t get any sleep last night. Last night she almost killed one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/that-s-when-i-understand-of-course-she-s-not-okay-of-course-she-didn/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I used to have a family. He”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-used-to-have-a-family-he/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“I've never been able to follow through.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-ve-never-been-able-to-follow-through/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“ground where it smells like ice and metal and dirt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/ground-where-it-smells-like-ice-and-metal-and-dirt/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) [Explore all 821 Tahereh Mafi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) [Christopher K. Krebs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-k-krebs/) > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) [Markus Herz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-herz/) > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Books are easily destroyed. But words will live as long as people can remember them. Tattoos, for example, are very hard to forget. I think there's something about the impermanence of life these days that makes it necessary to etch ink into our skin. It reminds us that we've been marked by the world, that we're still alive. 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